Generosity is the hallmark of the holidays, and every year New Yorkers are among the most generous contributors to causes that enrich our communities and serve our most vulnerable.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Dick Blume / The Post-Standard

Before you write an end-of-year check, I encourage you to do a bit of homework to find out just how the money you spend will support the work of the charity you choose.

I oversee the nearly 80,000 registered charities in New York state. While I am struck everyday by the passion and commitment of our state's non-profit professionals, we can each do our part to root out the occasional, if persistent, cases of waste and abuse at certain organizations.

As part of Operation Bottomfeeder - a statewide effort by my office to crack down on unscrupulous fundraisers and charities -- my office has uncovered countless scams to exploit veterans, cancer patients, and other causes, all in the name of making a quick buck.

That's why I'm urging New Yorkers to follow these tips to ensure their money is going to the right place:

* Consult myCharities Bureau's registry -- www.CharitiesNYS.com. Find out if a charity is registered, and learn more about its mission and finances.

* Know where your money will go. Ask the charity what it will do with your money. Review its financial reports to see how it spends donations. Review Pennies for Charity - my office's annual report of campaigns by professional fundraisers; go to the Pennies for Charity database on www.CharitiesNYS.com to see if the charityemploys a fundraiser and, if so, how much it spends on fundraising costs and how much raised goes to its programs.

* Don't be pressured by telemarketers. If you receive a telephone call asking you to contribute to a charity, remember that you have the right to hang up. Ask the caller if s/he is a professional solicitor and is being paid to make the call. New York law requires the telemarketer to give you that information as part of a solicitation.

* Be wary of deceptive tactics and emotional appeals. Watch out for charities with names that resemble those of prominent or established organizations. Some charities use names similar to well-known charities in order to confuse donors. Be wary of emotional appeals that talk about problems, but are vague on how donations will be spent.

* Don't disclose personal information. Never give your Social Security number or other personal information in response to a charitable solicitation. Never give out credit card information over the phone or to an organization you are not familiar with.

* If donating online or via text, donate securely. Always make sure that you use secure methods of payment. Make sure the website is secure and includes "https" in the web address. Before hitting "Send" on a text donation, check the charity's website or call the charity to make sure it has authorized contributions by text message.

* Be careful with crowdfunding appeals. Only give when you know the individuals who are conducting the appeal and you are confident that your contribution will reach the charity.

* Never give cash. Give your contribution by check made payable to the charity.

Charities help educate our kids. They operate cultural institutions. They feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide health care, and fund crucial disaster relief. For those causes, every penny matters.

This holiday season, before taking hard-earned money out of your wallet to support a cause you care deeply about, make sure no penny is wasted.